The luxury car maker has added a fourth model variant of its uber-luxury Bentayga SUV, replacing the 6.0-litre W12 and 4.0-litre V8 engines in favour of a more sedate 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol combined with an electric motor in the new Bentayga Hybrid.

Bentley claims the electrified Bentayga is the first hybrid luxury SUV, but it follows the Audi Q7 e-tron and will shortly be joined by the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid which it largely shares the same mechanical underpinnings with.

The Luxury carmaker isn't the first car maker that comes to mind when thinking of electrification, but the luxury brand is making a concerted effort to prepare its cars for the future.

“The Bentayga Hybrid is our first step on the road to electrification, combining traditional Bentley values with the very latest technologies. It gives customers the best of both worlds – engaging, effortless performance on the open road and silent, emission-free driving in the city, which will become increasingly important with the ever-changing regulations around the world," said Bentley chief executive Adrian Hallmark.

Power figures haven't been revealed but the British marque says that the Bentayga hybrid can drive in electric only mode for up to 50km. The luxury SUV can also be driven in hybrid and petrol only modes.

Considering it is likely to use the same powertrain as the Cayenne E-Hybrid, it is expected to generate at least 340kW and 700Nm and achieve a claimed average fuel consumption of around 3L/100km - significantly less than the double-digit figures produced by the W12 and V8-powered models.

The battery can be fully re-charged in 7.5 hours via a conventional home power outlet or 2.5 hours when connected to a higher capacity industrial outlet.

And much like its siblings, the hybrid Bentayga is flush with luxury kit and features a combination of wood and leather trim throughout along with removable 10.2-inch android tablets for rear seat passengers.